“Fox” Opening AFI Fest

"Fox" Opening AFI Fest

Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” will open the 2009 AFI Fest when it has its North American premiere on Friday, October 30, 2009 at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Based on Roald Dahl’s book — and written by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach — the animated movie includes the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wally Wolodarsky, Eric Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, and Jarvis Cocker. The film is produced by Allison Abbate, Scott Rudin, Wes Anderson and Jeremy Dawson.

“Wes Anderson is an American original,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO, in a statement. “It is a distinct honor for the American Film Institute to shine a proper light on his extraordinary talents by premiering his latest gift to the nation and to the world.”